Chapter 219: Capture the Alley Entrance

Zhu Yong points at the port on the sea chart and says, "There are two thousand troops stationed here, over thirty warships, our steamships have cannons, their range is far greater, so first we'll sink their warships in the open sea."

"And then?"

"Then we land, Flintlock Guns fire to clear a path, marching all the way to Manzhe Boyi. Zhou Dahai says their royal city is inland, with ten thousand troops, but they're all locals, weapons are shabby, five thousand Longxiang Army, that's enough." Zhu Yong's finger moves toward the interior, "

Wang Baobao ponders, "What if they flee into the mountains?"

"Then we burn the mountains. In short, this time we must frighten them, strike them so that for generations they dare not move Great Ming's ships again." Zhu Yong's face shows no expression.

The few discuss for another half hour, finalizing every detail.

After dispersing, Zhu Yong steps out of the cabin, stands at the bow and looks at the distant dark sea.

The night wind blows, carrying a salty, fishy scent.

He recalls Zhou Dahai's words: corpses float on the sea surface, everywhere, seventeen ships are gone, over four thousand lives lost.

Those people included merchants, sailors, newlyweds, and men who still had elderly mothers to support at home.

They carried Great Ming's porcelain, silk, and white sugar, intending to trade for spices and grain in the South Sea, earning money to support their families.

In the end, they died in a foreign land.

Zhu Yong clenches the rail, his knuckles turning white.

He isn't really a simpleton.

He remembers that in the history books of the Ming Dynasty, merchant ships were once plundered by small South Sea states, but the court could not intervene because the distance was too great.

But this life is different.

There are cannons, Flintlock Guns, steamships.

There is him.

"Java, Manzhe Boyi…" he murmurs the string of names.

In the distance, a faint glimmer appears on the horizon.

That is the direction of the Java port.

Tomorrow, the blood debt will begin to be repaid.

Zhu Yong turns and returns to the cabin, lies down to sleep.

He sleeps deeply, his snore booming like thunder.

The next day, the thirtieth day of the ninth month.

At dawn, Zhu Yong awakens.

He steps out of the cabin; the outline of the distant port is already visible on the sea.

The masts stand tall; those are Java's warships.

"Send word, full speed ahead, prepare for battle," Zhu Yong orders.

The steam whistle blows long; twenty steamships form a battle line, closing in on the port.

The Java people in the port quickly notice this massive fleet.

Someone rings the alarm bell, others panic and run about; the warships raise sails, soldiers begin to assemble.

But it's too late.

The steamships are too fast.

When the first Java warship just leaves the port, the cannons on the Hongwu fire.

"Boom!"

A bursting shell whistles out, striking the warship's hull precisely.

Amid the huge explosion, the hull splits, wood splinters fly, the men on board scream and fall into the sea.

The Java people in the port are stunned.

They have never seen such a weapon; the ship hadn't even approached, yet the cannon roared, and with such power!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Cannons fire in succession, shell after shell lands in the port.

Some hit warships, some fall on the dock, some fly into the shore barracks.

Firelight shoots upward, thick smoke rolls.

Those Java warships hadn't had time to exit the port before a large portion were blown up.

The survivors try to flee, but how can sailing ships outrun steamships?

In less than half an hour, over thirty warships are completely destroyed.

The defending garrison in the port falls into total chaos.

Some run toward the shore, some kneel and beg for mercy, some hold weapons and stare bewildered—where is the enemy? They haven't even seen a shadow of the enemy!

Zhu Yong stands at the bow, coldly watching it all.

"Land."

Twenty steamships slowly dock, their cabins open, Longxiang Army pours out like fish.

They wear plate armor, wield Flintlock Guns, forming a neat square formation, stepping onto the wooden gangplank.

Some Java soldiers on the dock still try to resist, brandishing spears and short swords, shouting as they charge.

"Raise your guns."

At the command of the Longxiang Army Colonel, the first row of soldiers raise their guns and aim.

"Fire!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A line of gunfire erupts, the dozens of Java soldiers at the front fall dead in response.

Those behind are stunned.

What kind of weapon is this?

Can you kill someone from such a distance?

Before they could react, the second row of guns fired again.

Another dozens of people fell.

The remaining people finally broke down, dropped their weapons and fled in all directions.

The Longxiang Army did not pursue, but kept forming ranks and, according to the preset plan, pushed further into the port.

Zhu Yong was the last to disembark, carrying the pair of drum‑jar Jin hammers in his hands.

Although he didn't need to act, it gave him peace of mind.

Chang Yuchun stayed by his side, rubbing his hands excitedly as he said, "Thrilling! Absolutely thrilling! These barbarians can't even get close for melee!"

Wang Baobao also came down, shaking his head at the fleeing Java soldiers, "This is all they have, and they dare to hijack our ship?"

Wang Gui walked over: "Prince, the port has been secured, we've captured a few hundred prisoners; how shall we deal with them?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "First lock them up, interrogate them, and see if any took part in the ship hijacking."

Yes.

The Longxiang Army swiftly occupied the port.

The warehouse on the pier was opened, its interior piled with spices, timber, and several boxes of porcelain—exactly the cargo the Great Ming caravan had brought.

Looking at those familiar porcelain pieces, Zhu Yong's gaze grew cold.

"Continue the interrogation, find out the route to their capital city."

An hour later, the interrogation results came out.

The mastermind behind the ship hijacking was the Java king's brother, a prince named Aldi.

He had long set his sights on Great Ming's merchant ships, colluding with Champa to lay a trap.

Half of the looted goods were transported to the Manzhe Boyi Kingdom City.

"Manzhe Boyi is inland; on horseback it takes two days. They have troops—claimed to be ten thousand—but most are hastily conscripted farmers with poor equipment."

Wang Baobao brought the intelligence.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Leave a thousand men to guard the port; the remaining four thousand will set out at first light tomorrow."

That night, the Longxiang Army garrisoned the port.

The remaining Java troops attempted several sneak attacks, but each time the patrols drove them back, leaving dozens of corpses, and they never dared return.

On the first day of the tenth month, the sky was dimly lit.

Four thousand Longxiang Army soldiers left the port, marching inland.

Zhu Yong rode his horse, leading the formation.

Behind him was a tidy square formation, soldiers shouldering Flintlock Guns and marching with firm steps.

In the distance, faint outlines of mountain ranges could be seen.

There is the direction of Manzhe Boyi.

Zhu Yong brushed the telescope hanging by his saddle and recalled the words Zhu Biao had given him before departure.

"Second brother, take the telescope with you, and if those barbarians surrender, don't kill them; later the South Sea will need prefectures and counties, so someone must do the work."

Zhu Yong nodded then, saying he understood.

Now, looking into the distance, he thought: "My elder brother is right; we can't kill them all, we must leave some people to work."

But those who take up the knife, none of them will survive.

"Accelerate forward," he said.

The formation quickened its pace.

Ahead, a real war is about to begin.